Cole’s Collision Centers expanding again after buying old Colonie motel

The owner of Cole's Collision Centers bought a former motel in the village of Colonie, New York where he will build his next auto body repair shop -- the latest expansion for the nearly 8-year-old company.

John Cole said he bought the old Northway Inn at 1517 Central Ave. for about $1 million from Tony Nash, owner of Fit to be Tiled.

The deal closed Dec. 2.

Demolition of the former motel on the 2.5-acre parcel near the ramps to the Northway will start soon, followed by construction of an 18,000-square-foot repair shop that should open by mid-summer. The plans have been approved by the village, said Pat Hurley, clerk.

"You can tell it is dilapidated and falling down now but probably was beautiful back in the '50s," Cole said of the motel, one of several out-dated models on Central Avenue.

The total investment for the new shop will be $2.5 million to $3 million. Financing is from Saratoga National Bank. A contractor hasn't been chosen.

"We're down to a couple of them," he said.

Cole also owns auto body repair shops in Halfmoon, Wilton, Ballston Spa and Colonie. More on that here:

The Colonie shop at 1904 Central Ave., west of Route 155, opened in January 2007, his first location. Although it's just two miles away from the new shop that will be built, Cole said it's possible he will keep both open.

The shop further to the west is more convenient to customers in Guilderland and Niskayuna.

"It's really up to my customers and my business partners," he said. "If they feel they need to keep me saturated with work, then we'll keep it open."

Cole said he needed to expand to accommodate business growth, and wanted to own the real estate for a shop on Central Avenue (he leases the other location). The new shop will be slightly larger.

Cole has 76 employees. Revenues this year will exceed $13 million.

"I haven't stopped growing since I opened the doors eight years ago," he said.